With all of the Christmas celebrating taking place, you may have not have noticed something. It easily gets lost in the shuffle, but this is also the season for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Giving thanks should come before getting more.
I recently paid my doctor’s office to tell me I am overweight and out of shape. I shudder to think how much they would’ve charged to tell me something I didn’t already know. Two factors – one an abundance the other a dearth – have contributed to my sad physical condition.
First, the dearth. I do not get enough exercise. I like to walk. But since daylight hours are at a minimum now, I don’t seem to be able to find an illuminated time.
But the greatest contributing factor is my diet. I am diabetic. I’m supposed to watch my carb intake. And I do. I watch them go from my hands into my mouth. As a result, my blood work looks like the Dow Jones Industrial Average. I am in a bull market when it comes to consumption.
The Curse of Abundance
Recently, social media has buzzed with the debate over Chick-fil-a’s decision to change the way they corporately donate to charity. I do not wish to add my 2 cents worth. In fact, mine is only worth about ½ cent.
People are taking sides with a passion usually reserved for college football. I guess people won’t be calling it “the Lord’s chicken” anymore. Thankfully. That 3rd commandment takes a beating some times. Personally, I think they made their biggest mistake when they discontinued their cole slaw.
I wonder if Russian collusion is at the heart of this. Maybe Russian interests hold investment in Popeye’s or Zaxby’s and they are trying to bring CFA down. I wonder what the Russians could do for my A1c and Triglycerides? Hmm.
It occurred to me, however, that our debate over a fast food restaurant indicates we are incredibly spoiled. We can go to a myriad of places where someone will prepare delicious food for us. We don’t have to procure the ingredients or cook the food. They do that for us. And they let us “have it our way” while telling us it is their “pleasure.”
What we fail to realize is that 1 out of 9 people in the world do not get enough food to lead a healthy life. Moreover, poor nutrition causes the death of 45% of children under 5 around the world. 66 million primary school-age children attend classes hungry across the developing world, with 23 million in Africa alone.1
Time for Giving Thanks
It’s OK for you and me to hold our opinions on Chick-fil-a or any other food establishment. But before we get too excited and passionate about it, we need to remember to do three things.
First, pray for those less fortunate than us, whether close to home or around the world. Hunger is real and many of us have no clue. We flippantly say “I’m hungry” when just a few hours before we were gluttonously full.
Second, be proactive in helping. While you may criticize someone else’s giving habits, make sure you are giving as well. It’s hypocritical to disparage someone for not giving to an organization to which we are not giving. If you don’t like Chick-fil-a’s decision to no longer give to Salvation Army or FCA, then make up some of that with your own giving.
Third, and most importantly. Be thankful to God for living where we live with the blessings we enjoy. You could’ve been born in a malnourished environment, but you weren’t. Let’s make sure we take lots of time and give great effort for giving thanks to God.
1 These statistics are available online at http://www.foodaidfoundation.org/world-hunger-statistics.html